Built Review

Introduction

Corsar Rex is a company that has been releasing resin and white metal figures since 2009 in three main scales of 1/16th, 1/35th and 1/48th. A look at their website will quickly reveal that 1/35th scale resin figures usually covering the period of World War 2 from all combatants are their stock and trade. The latest offerings are listed as Finnish soldiers of the Waffen SS in 1/35th scale.

Review

Starting this review with a close look at the quality of the resin casting results in a positive opinion in my case. casting has been managed with two connection points in the case of this offering which are on the underside of the boots where they will be hidden even if poorly cleaned up. The helmet has a tab at the rear that will need carful removal to avoid damaging the rim of the helmet. The right and left arm has a single tab casting plug that will be easily tackled in the case of this figure as it is at the shoulder.

This figure is posed sat on a level surface with the right leg straight and the left bent with the left arm resting on it. The left arm has good cut out detail in order that a natural joint is achieved where it rests on the leg. The left hand is moulded to support a Finnish Suomi KP/-31 machine gun. The right hand is holding a canteen and the figures looks to be about to take a drink.

The clothing on this one consists of baggy trousers that could be white or camouflaged and a hooded baggy jacket that I can only remember seeing in white, but if I remember correctly these jackets were reversible and so it could just be I have not seen the hood when the camouflaged portion is exposed or I have my facts mixed up. The crease and seam detail is very natural with a good look to the way the hood sits. The creases have a nice soft look to them. There is nothing on the clothing to identify this figure as being specifically Finnish.

The boots worn are again the high legged type from what I can see and the hobnails are present on the exposed area of the boot sole. The helmet has a step inside it that allows it to sit naturally on the head of the figure and provide nice undercut detail around it. The issue I have encountered with 50% of the helmets with the four figures released in this series is that when removing it the very fine rear portion of the helmet broke away, so take great care here.

The Suomi KP/-31 machine gun is a drum magazine Finnish weapon and from what I have been able to see is an accurate rendition of it. Corsar Rex has supplied the drum magazine as a separate part and we are also provided with a drum magazine pouch for mounting on the figure.

The hands of the figure are excellent having very nice finger and palm detail; this is one of the few figures where I can see that the fingers are different in length and look natural. The face is well proportioned with all features present, but I would have liked to see an expression on the face. I do feel the ears on this offering need a little work.

Assembly

Putting this figure together is a dream with the exception of removing the helmet tab. The parts went together very well and in my case do not require any filler. Corsar Rex really does deserve praise for the joints on this figure and the way they have made it easy to secure the arms in the correct orientation.

Conclusion

This is another of the four figures released by Corsar Rex that will look perfectly at home on a vehicle or around a fire as indicated on the box. The fit of parts is of the highest order and the detail of the clothing is very nice. The lack of a facial expression is the only weak spot of what is a fantastic offering.

I have been building model kits since the early 70ís starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70ís, I have had lots of opportunitie...

Comments

Well, let me guess...another Finish Waffen-SS soldier! While new figures are always appreciated (especially if they're in useful poses!) the fact that these are identified as Finnish sort of makes them early to mid-war, right? I'd rather think of them as universal W-SS figures in interesting poses.

Two of the figures from the four have shield detail on the wrist and that is what would identify them as Finnish troops, but it could also be altered to show other SS units. by removing that shield I believe they could represent standard SS troops.

Just so Darren. The Finnish SS seem to have retained the SS runes as collar patches. Modellers who are interested in the Finnish SS units are recommended to try and obtain a copy of Olli Wikberg's "Meine Ehre Heisst Treue!".

Just for historical perspective: my uncle was in Wiking and he once told me how much he and his fellow soldiers valued the Finns for their impressive capabilities, comradeship and courage under fire in the face of insurmountable odds. He also said that the Division as a whole felt their loss when they were (largely) withdrawn by the Finnish government as part of their agreement with the Soviets.